Spurs notebook: Second unit’s grit changes outcome

Spurs guard Gary Neal hadn’t played more than 9 1/2 minutes in a game in almost three weeks.

So he sat in front of his locker, ice bags on both legs, for a while after logging 25:38 in a 105-93 victory over the Thunder and savored the feeling of fatigue.

The third-year guard from Towson was part of a second unit that helped put together one of the Spurs’ most dominant second quarters of the season. San Antonio, down 32-22 after the first quarter, outscored Oklahoma City 35-18 to take a 57-50 lead at halftime.

By game’s end, Neal had scored seven points and handed out a team-high six assists, happy his sore left calf felt right for the first time in a long time.

“Twenty-five minutes, it’s been a while, man,” he said. “I’m glad it was a good 25, though.”

Neal had begun the season as the primary backup to All-Star Tony Parker at point guard and played some at the point against the Thunder. His approach was simple.

“… For the most part, just not turn the ball over,” he said. “You limit your turnovers and stay with an aggressive mindset, and the shots will come. I got up seven tonight, but I was mainly trying not to turn the ball over. Against a great team like OKC, turnovers can lead to transition dunks.”

The Spurs’ bench outscored the Thunder’s reserves 34-16, a significant factor in the team’s 49th victory of the season. Boris Diaw scored 11 points on just five shots. Manu Ginobili scored 12, but he needed 11 shots.

Team captain Tim Duncan lauded the second unit’s second-quarter grit.

“We weren’t in sync with what we wanted to do,” Duncan said. “On top of that, they were making every open shot they got. That didn’t help. We just stuck with it. It was great to see the tide turn and us to turn up our aggressiveness. The second squad came in, changed the tempo for us and took control of the game.”

Another mistake-free outing: Making his fourth start since Parker exited the lineup with a left ankle sprain, Cory Joseph had his second game without a turnover. He has only three turnovers in the four starts.

“He’s just solid,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “He gives us solid minutes. He played good defense. He’s scrappy and aggressive, and he’s doing just what we ask him to do.”

Neal, who began the season as Parker’s primary backup, appreciates what Joseph has been able to do under the pressure of replacing Parker.

“To be able to come up from the D-League, get the team into the offense and not turn the ball over and played some tough defense, keeping his man in front of him, we can’t ask much more,” he said. “He’s doing a great job.”